At Risk Of Sounding Like An Idiot, Contax IIIa Spool Question.

klop · Dec 8, 2014

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, is there a way to remove the film leader from the contax spool without tearing the film? Last thing I want is to brake my spool goofing with it too much... Don't see anything in the manual....:confused:

Xmas · Dec 8, 2014

Which spool are you employing?

summicron1 · Dec 8, 2014

some of those spools are weird -- if you are rewinding the film and it refuses to pull out, don't force it. Take the back off the camera, remove the film and takeup spool, cut the film leader off where it goes into the takeup spool and pull/push the stuck bit through and out the other side.

i have a IIa and, yeah, the takeup spool is pretty cheesy/cheap plastic. If it were to break, you could easily replace it with the spool from a reusable film can, some of which had slots to insert film. Worse comes to worse, you could tape the film end to the takeup spool, or even use a second film can and just wind it can-to-can.

That's actually why those and Exakta cameras have removable spools -- to allow you to take it out and just wind the film into a second can. It made reloading faster for professionals in a hurry. Exakta even had a film knife to cut the film end off so you could switch the now-empty can over and use it for takeup.

klop · Dec 8, 2014

Xmas said:
Which spool are you employing?

Its the take up spool with the diagonal cut with tab to lock in the film leader...:munch:

summicron1 said:
some of those spools are weird -- if you are rewinding the film and it refuses to pull out, don't force it. Take the back off the camera, remove the film and takeup spool, cut the film leader off where it goes into the takeup spool and pull/push the stuck bit through and out the other side.

i have a IIa and, yeah, the takeup spool is pretty cheesy/cheap plastic. If it were to break, you could easily replace it with the spool from a reusable film can, some of which had slots to insert film. Worse comes to worse, you could tape the film end to the takeup spool, or even use a second film can and just wind it can-to-can.

That's actually why those and Exakta cameras have removable spools -- to allow you to take it out and just wind the film into a second can. It made reloading faster for professionals in a hurry. Exakta even had a film knife to cut the film end off so you could switch the now-empty can over and use it for takeup.

Thank You, I thought it should come out some way without a lot of force...

Xmas · Dec 8, 2014

klop said:
Its the take up spool with the diagonal cut with tab to lock in the film leader...:munch:
YES they do hang on to film use a kodak spook from a factory load and cut an exactly similar slot the tooth is not becessartthe slit will hold in friction.

Fine tooth metal saw

Mini lsbbs will give you used cassettes but only kodak do reasonable spools...

An Exakta spool is nice but difficult to source.

elekm · Dec 8, 2014

The best way to remove film from a Contax film spool is to turn it at a 45- to 90-degree angle while pushing the film leader. Don't pull, push the film.

There were plastic and metal film spools. I like the metal ones.

At Risk Of Sounding Like An Idiot, Contax IIIa Spool Question.

klop

Xmas

summicron1

klop

Xmas

elekm

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